Wrapping-machine



E. L. SMITHI WRAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATIDN FILED MAY 20. I919.

Patented May 10,1921.

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I VINVENTOR I ATTORNEY5.

E. L. SMITH.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1919.

Patented 10, 1921.

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ELMER LOVELL SMITH, or SPRINGFIELD, ssAcIIUsETTs, AssIGNoR To PACKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, or SPRINGFIELD,' MASSAoHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1919. Serial No. 298,482.

To all whomv it may concem Be it known that I, ELMER LovELL SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrapping-Machines, of which th following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrapping machines and, more particularly, to machines of the type wherein the wrapping is performed by first inclosing the article, except for its ends, in a substantially tubular wrapper leaving end extensions and subsequently lnclosing such ends by twisting the end extensions.

Examples of machines of the type mentioned will be found in U. S. Letters 'Patent Nos. 1,079,012 and 1,226,622, granted November 18, 1913, and May 15, 1917, respectively, on inventions of Henry J. Kempf. Such machines are adapted, primarily, for wrapping confections having the characteristics of molasses kisses, and wrap such articles in the manner above-described.

This invention is concerned with improvements in machines of the general type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, such as will. render the machines capable of wrapping articles which do not possess the char- For example, molasses kisses generally present two substantially square opposite faces which may readily be'gripped in the pockets of the wrapping turret to hold them statiom ary during the operation of the end twist Moreover, such confections are compressible to some extent and are, in fact, generally compressed in the pockets of the wi'appin turret, so that ample surfaces ofthe con ection are engaged by the fixed and movable walls of the pockets of the turret to frictionally holdthe confections against rotation during the operation of the end twisters, even though the confection does not present the desired square ends. Other articles,'such as hard candies for ex ample, are not readily compressible nor do they commonly present square opposed end only, will be had with thewalls of the pocket unless special means are provided. Hard candies are readily frangible, as distinguished from molasses kisses, and will chip, crack, and break, if allowed to drop, or if sharply impinged. Other articles, suchas chocolate creams and the like, must obviously be handled with greater care than are molasses kisses in machines of the type de- Other objects and advantages will ap-' pear in the following description and'in the illustrative embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a wrapping machine embodying the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the article feeding plunger and the guiding member therefor, respectively;

Patented May 10, 1921.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary plan View of the machine with many parts, unnecessary to an understanding of thetinvention, removed or broken away;

Fig. 5 is a illustrative of the means for conveying articles to the feeding means;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an article, as wrapped by the machine.

Inasmuch as the'features of this invention are embodied in certain mechanism of the machines shown in the patents abovementioned, it will be unnecessary to illustrate and describe the complete machine here. Accordingly, only such parts of the complete machine are shownin the drawings as are essential. to a clear understanding of this invention, referencebeing made tofthe above-noted patents for a full disclosure of those parts of the machine not herein illustrated;

The machine, in general, includes spaced fragmentary perspective view supporting frames A which rotatably support a wrapping turret 10, having in its periphery a series of pockets, each formed by. a stationary wall 11 and a movable wall 12.

The. walls 12 are yieldingly urged toward walls 11 and are moved away from the latter at certain times by a cam .13. The turret 10 is turned'step by step in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) and the cam 13 successively moves the walls 12 away from walls 11 before the pockets successively come to rest in line with the article feeding plunger 14. Wrappers w are automatically supplied transversely of the turret and between it and the plunger 14. Articles 0,

stationary arcuate plate 16 which encompasses part ofthe periphery of the turret and holds-the folded flaps in overlapping relation until the wrapping is completed. The wrappers w are longer than the articles a so as to leave tubular end wrapper extensions projecting from each end ofthe article. The wrapping is completed by twisting such extensions during an interval of rest of turret 10, and while the article a is stationarily held in its pocket. This twist ing operation is accomplished by rotary end twisters 17 a (Fig. 4), one on each side of the turret, which twisters advance toward the turret, grip the end extensions and by their rotation twist the latter to complete the wrapping,-the completely wrapped article then appearing as shown in Fig. 7. After the end twisting operation the turret 10 moves forward one step and cam 13 re leases the wrapped article from the turret pocket, and such'article falls from the turret upon an inclined delivery chute 18.

The machine, as thus far described, is substantially like that disclosed in the firstnamedpatent except for the end twisters which are fully disclosed in the last-named patent. Reference is made to those patents for a full disclosure of the detailed construction and operation of the elements herein briefly described. I

The improvements, which render the machine of the class described suitable for wrapping other "articles, will now be described." .First, it is essential that the arti-v cles beheld against rotation in their pockets in turret 10 during the operation of the end twisters 17. When the articles are spherical, as indicated, they cannot be efiectively held in the turret, 10 unless special means are provided, for, with pockets of the usual type, point contact only between'the articles and the walls of the pocket would be had. If the articles are cylindrical, then line contact will be had, but even this is insufiicient for an effective gripping of the articles, as will readily be appreciated. Accordingly, the fixedwall 11 of the wrapping pocket is rounded as at 20 to conformrto the contour-of the article to be wrapped. As

shown, the fixed side wall 11 and the fixed bottom wall 21 are joined together by the curved wall 20, to form a seat for the articles and to increase'the extent of contact of the articles with the fixed walls of the turret. I The movable walls 12, which consist of elbow levers pivoted at 22, are urged toward the fixed walls 11 by springs, as 23, and are provided with yieldable pads 24 of suitable cushioning material, such as rubber for example. Consequently, these pads 24, which will compress somewhat when engaged with the article, will have a substantial area of contact with the articles to. ef-

fectively hold them against rotation in the pocket. Moreover, the pads 24' prevent chipping or cracking of the articles a as the latter are gripped by the walls 11' for the sharp impingement, which would otherwise be had when walls 12 are released by cam 13,.is cushioned by the pads 24.

The means for feeding the articles a into the turret 10 will now be described. The plunger 14 is slidably mounted on the hori zontal upper face of a bracket B and is held thereto by a generally U-shaped block 25 (Fig. 3) which is bolted to the bracket. A link 26 connects a lug on the under face of plunger 14 to the upper endof a lever 27 pivoted at 28 to bracket B and such lever is connected intermediate its ends to a cam fork 29 the forked end of which straddles a cam shaft 30. A cam 31 on the latter is arranged to actuate the fork 29 and thus rock lever 27 and actuate plunger 14. The

(Fig. 6) to present two spaced walls 32 between which the article may be received;

The -walls 32 have lateral extensions 33 against which the outer portions of wrapper to may be held, as the article is inserted in the turret, by clamps 34, operated by cams on shaft 31, all as fully set forth in the second-named patent.

The articles deposited between the forked ends of plunger 14 rest upon the upper horizontal surface of bracket B and there is inset into such surface a pad 35 of cushioning material to prevent chipping or breaking of the articles which fall, as will. appear, between such ends. The upper horizontal surface of bracket B is extended as nearly as is' feasible .to the periphery of turret 10 by a plate 36 secured to bracket B and the turret 10 comes to rest in such position that the fixed wall 11 of a pocket alines with such plate. Thus, a track is provided along which the articles .a may be moved by plunger 14 toward. and into a pocket of the turret. Side guides, in the nature of two spaced angle iron brackets 37, are provided on plate 36 to prevent the articles, which might roll forwardly out of the recess in the forward end of the plunger when the latter is in retracted position, from rolling laterally off plate 36.. The spaced walls 32 of the plunger are slotted, as at 38, to receive the upstanding parts of guides 37 and permit the plunger tomove for- 'wardly sufficiently to carry the articles into the pockets of the turret. The article engaging portion of plun er 14 is also provided with a pad 39, of cus ioning material to insure against injury to the article, when engaged thereby. I

, To prevent the articles from rolling forwardly, while the plunger is retracted, to

such positionas to interfere with the feeding of the wrapper w, a movable gate 40 is provided. Such gate is reciprocable, substantially vertically, through'a slot in plate 36 and between the side guides 37. Gate 40 is fixed to the free end of an arm 41, which is fixed to a rod 42 rotatably supported in lugs 43 depending from member 25. Also fixed to rod 42 is a lever 44, which is connected by a link 45 to a lever extension 46 0f the described plunger operating lever 27. The movement of the and controlled by, that of the plunger and the gate-operating connections described are so arranged asto give the gate a relatively quick downward movement so that it is moved below plate 36 before the plunger reaches it.

The means for successively supplying-articles a to the plunger '14 will next be described. A receiving table 47 is provided for the articles and is supported atone end by one frame A nd at the other end by suitable means no ti shown. Three sides of the table have rims 48 while the fourth side is open to a conveyer, as indicated in Fig. 4. Such conveyer consists of a sprocket chain 49 mounted on sprockets, one of which is shown at 50, and generally U-shaped article receiving parts 51, which are attached in spaced relation to thechain. The chain travels between two spaced plates 52, which close the open sides of the parts 51 and prevent escape of the articles. The chain 49 travels above and substantially in the same vertical plane as lunger 14. The articles a are combed into t e pockets of the conveyer during its upper lap of travel and carried toward the turret 10. The conveyer is driven step by step by gearing 53 from thegate is thus tied up with,

shaftof turret 10 (Fig. 4 the shaft of the driving sprocket 50 being indicated by ref erence. numeral 54 in this figure'. Thus, the conveyer moves, when the turret does, and the gearing 53 is so arrangedas to move the conveyer, during each step of movement of the turret, a distance equal to the center to center distance between successive parts 51.

The conveyer comes to rest in the position illustrated in Fig. 1,-'-one,article receiving pocket as 51, being so located that the article a must fall therefrom and so that such article can only fall into proper position between the walls 32 of the plunger. Guides 55 and 56, of U-shaped cross-section, encompass the conveyer during its travel around sprocket 50, and prevent escape of the articles during suchtravel. The lower guide 55 is' fixed to the pocket 51, whereupon they fall between the arms 32 of the plunger 14. The gate 40, at such time, is in raised position asillustrated to prevent escape of the articles A wrapper w, having been fed in place between the gate 40 and turret 10, the plunger 14 advances and carries article a forwardly.

Asthe article at approaches the gate 40, the latter is lowered to permit the article to pass and the article is carried against wrapper w and into the turret 10. The remaining wrapping operations then proceed in the manner disclosed in the patents ab0ve-re-. ferred to. After the plunger 14 has, on its return stroke, moved beyond the gate 40, the gate is moved upwardly into the illustrated position prior to the feeding of a succeeding article to the plunger.

The invention has been disclosed herein, ing an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes, but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What I claim is 1. Ida wrapping machine, a turret rotatable in a substantially vertical plane and provided with peripheral pockets for the reception of articles to be wrapped, a, plunger to feed articles to the turret and movable to and from the latter, said plunger having a forked end to receive the articles, a verand to provide a pocket in which the articles ma be deposited, and means forfmoving sai gate to allow the plunger to carry the articles to the turret.

' tically movable gate coiiperating with such V, 2. In a wrapping machine, a turret, a plunger to feed articles and their wrappers into the turret and movable to and from the latter, said plunger having a forked end to partially encompass the articles, means to feed articles to said plunger, a gatecooperating. with the plunger to prevent escape of articles fed to the plunger and arranged between the plunger and the wrapper during the feeding of the articles .to

the former, and means controlled by the movement of the plunger to open the gate to allow the plunger to carry the article against the wrapper and into the turret.

3. In a wrapping machine, a turret, a support adjacent the turret along which articles may be moved to the latter, a plunger reciprocable along the support and having a forked end to receive the articles, a gate movable through said support'and arranged adjacent said end of the plunger when the articles are fed thereto, and means controlled by the movement of the plunger and operating simultaneously therewith to withdraw the gate from the path of the plunger during the article feeding movement thereof; 4. In a wrapping machine, a turret; a

plunger to feed articles to the turret and movable to and from the latter, said plunger having a forked end to receive the articles, a gate cooperating with such end to provide a pocket in which an article may be deposited, and means controlled by the plunger to move said gate to allow the plunge!"- to carry the article to the turret.

5. In a wrapping machine, a turret, a plunger to feed articles to the turret and reciprocable toward and away from the latter, said plunger having a recessed end to partially encompass an article, a gate re-' ciprocable substantially at right angles to the plunger and coiiperating with the latter to form a pocket into which articles may be fed, and means connecting the plunger and vgate to codrdinate their movements so that cle, conveying means movable step by step during the movement of the 'turretto carry a plurality of articles and successively deliver them to said pocket, and means to move the gate after an article has been delivered to the pocket to allow the plunger to carry the article to the turret.

7. In a wrapping machine, a turret, a plunger to successively feed articles thereto and provided with a forked end to partially encompass an article, a support along which the plunger travels, a gate cooperating with said plunger and support to form a pocket for the articles, means to successively drop articles upon the support, cushioning means provided" on the support and upon which said articles fall, and means to move the gate after an article hasbeen fed to the pocket to permit the plunger to carry the article into the turret.

' 8. In a wrapping machine, a turret, a plunger to successively feedarticles thereto and provided with a forked end to partially encompass an article, a support along which the plunger travels; a gate cotiperating with said plunger and support to form a pocket for the articles, means to successively drop articles upon the support, cushioning means provided on the support and upon which said articles fail, means to move the gate after an article has been fed to the pocket to permit the plunger to carry the article into the turret, and means provided on the plunger to cushion the engagement of the latter with the article.

9. In a wrapping machine, a revoluble turret, a recipro-cable plunger movable in the plane of the turret, said plunger having a forked end to receive articles to be wrapped, a gate coiiperating with such end to provide a pocket in which the articles may be deposited, and means to move said gate to allow the plunger to carry the article to the turret.

10. Ina wrapping machine, a revoluble turret, a reciprocable plunger movable in the plane of rotation of the turret, said plunger having a forked end to receive articles to be wrapped, a gate coiiperating with such end to provide apocket in which the articles may be deposited and controlled by the movement of the plunger to permit the plunger to carry the article to the turret 11. In a wrapping machine, a turret,a support adjacent the turret, the turret being adapted to receive and wrap articles delivered thereto from the support, an endless conveyer provided with individual receptacles each adapted to receive one of the article's tobe wrapped and deliver the same to the support, and a plunger operable after the delivery of each article to said support by said conveyer for successively delivering the articles to the turret.

12. Ina wrapping machine, a turret, a

plunger to feed articles to the turret and.

movable to and from the latter, said plunger having a forked end to receive the articles,

with the plunger for opening the gate upon forward movement of the plunger and closing the same When the plunger is withdrawn.

13. In a wrapping machine, a turret, a support adjacent the turret, the turret being provided .With means to receive and wrap articles delivered thereto from the support, a plunger for successively delivering each article to the turret from the support, and an endless conveyer provided with individual receptacles each adapted to receive one of the articles to be wrapped and deliver the same'to the support in position to be engaged by said plunger.

14:. In a wrapping machine, a turret rotatable in a substantially vertical plane and provided with peripheral pockets for the reception of articles to be wrapped, a horizontal support located adjacent to one side of said turret, a plunger movable across the horizontal support and reciprocable in the plane of the turret for delivering articles to be wrapped from said support to said plunger.

15. In a wrapping machine, a turret rotatable in a substantially vertical plane and provided with peripheral pockets for the reception of articles to be wrapped, a horizontal support located adjacent one side of said turret, a plunger movable across the horizontal support and reciprocable in the plane of the turret, and'an endless belt conveyer located above the support and pro vided with individual receptacles each adapted to receive one of the articles to be wrapped and deliver the same to said support in position to be engaged by said plunger.

- ELMER LO'VELL SMITH. 

